Remote witness testing system

ABSTRACT

A master testing control system includes at least one remote computer with one or more communications lines for communicating over a communications network and a plurality of remote sensors, a two way real-time digital video system, a two-way real-time digital audio system. A set of instructions is on each remote computer for sending and receiving data over one or more data lines and for remote display. A set of instructions is on each remote computer for displaying data. At least one local computer is located geographically distant from the remote computer and able to monitor and control the display, storage, and transmission of data acquired by to the remote computer. The remote computer collects data from the plurality of sensors and transmits this data to the local computer, under the control of the local computer, for permanent recording.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No.11/333,962 filed on Jan. 17, 2006 and issued Nov. 10, 2009 as U.S. Pat.No. 7,617,063, which in turn claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/644,769 filed on Jan. 18, 2005, both ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to data collection, transfer, and storageover a communications network. More particularly, this invention relatesto a test data monitoring, storage, and control system useful forconducting certification testing procedures remotely over a securecommunications link, thus allowing third parties to witness testsconducted at a site remote from the location of the third party witness.

BACKGROUND

There is a segment of the technical services business sector that dealswith providing independent, “third party” testing and certification of abroad range of consumer and commercial products. Test standards andcertifications for these products range fromverification-of-product-origins to compliance with product safetyspecifications and environmental impact potentials. Product teststandards and certifications are required by many governmental laws,regulations, or codes before some products can be installed for use oreven being offered for sale in some jurisdictions.

Typical product testing is provided by laboratories accredited byappropriate jurisdictionally specified and approved agencies forperforming the specialty types of testing required for the product. Anew product model or design is submitted by its developer to thelaboratory where tests are conducted in accordance with prescribed teststandards or in accordance with specific standard scientific andengineering experimental methods. If a product meets the specificationsprescribed by a test standard and/or the applicable laws, regulations,or codes, the laboratory certifies the results. Laboratory certificationof a product is most typically conveyed by written documentation,laboratory-controlled trademark labeling, product specificationliterature, and/or published information in product user manuals.

It is common practice for product developers in the United States andCanada to have their own laboratory testing facilities with all of theappropriate equipment and expertise for performing many and sometimesall of the applicable test standards their new products have to meet.This way, the developer can perform their own testing to be certain anew product will pass the required tests before it is submitted foraccredited, third-party testing, and certification. Because thesedeveloper-owned laboratories are fully equipped with appropriate testequipment, it has also become common for the third-party accreditedlaboratory to send a test-engineer employee of the third-partyaccredited laboratory to the developer's laboratory for conductingproduct certification testing. This practice, where the third-partyaccredited laboratory provides the test-engineer employee and thedeveloper provides the fully equipped laboratory facilities for producttesting and certification has become known as “witness testing”.

A drawback of present witness testing programs is that they require the“witness” test engineer to be physically present to verify the setup andthe conduct of the test, and to sign off on all results. This can entailexpensive travel. This can also entail expensive delays in testing, as acustomer may have to delay testing until the witness test engineers areavailable, which can lead to increased development costs and delays inintroducing products to market. If any problems are encountered in testsetup or preparation, then this might require that the witness testengineers prolong their stay at the test location, again increasingcosts. Conversely, if the witness test engineers are unable to extendtheir stay at a test location when problems are encountered, due toconflicts with other scheduled testing or other reasons, then the entiretesting program might have to be delayed until the witness testengineers can return. Again, these testing delays can cause delays inproduct development and introduction into the market with consequentlysignificant cost penalties.

Creating a witness testing system that permits witness test engineers tomonitor all aspects of the test procedure from their own desks on acomputer would avoid most of the need for traveling to and from testsites, thus saving traveling expenses and time. A witness testing systemthat permitted such a virtual presence would also minimize costsincurred due to problems encountered in the testing program, sincewitness test engineers would not be required to stay at a test sitewhile corrections are made, and they could more easily reschedule thetesting program.

SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES

A remote witness testing system includes a test apparatus with aplurality of sensors to monitor designated test parameters; dataacquisition devices to convert the sensor signal information into anelectronic format that can be stored and manipulated by a digitalcomputer; a remote digital computer co-located with the test apparatusin electronic communication with the data acquisition devices which isalso connected to one or more two-way communications networks, theremote computer containing instructions for display, storage andtransmission of data from the data acquisition devices; a local digitalcomputer co-located with a designated test witness in electroniccommunication with the remote digital computer over a communicationsnetwork, the local digital computer containing instructions for display,storage, and verification of test data; a two-way real-time digitalvideo connection with cameras and terminals at the remote test locationand the local test witness; and a two-way real-time digital audioconnection co-located with the video cameras and terminals.

The remote witness testing system includes a number of advantages,including (1) provides all of the data collection and test specificationmonitoring needed for demonstrating and recording compliance with thetest standards being performed without the at-site physical presence ofa third-party accredited test-engineer employee; (2) integratescalibrated and verified test data monitoring, transmission, andrecording system, a video imaging, transmission, and recording system,an on-site/off-site test communications recording system, and a datatransmission security system for maintaining the confidentiality of testand sensitive product information; (3) test procedures conducted by theproduct developer in their own laboratory can be directed, monitored,and recorded by a third-party accredited laboratory test-engineeremployee located anywhere in the world; (4) allows a third-partyaccredited laboratory test-engineer employee to have a “virtualpresence” for directing and performing tests and certifying testresults; (5) maintains the third-party and independent tester statusrequired by accreditation agencies; (6) can utilize the World Wide Webvia the Internet or dedicated two-way electronic communications systemsfor transmission of test procedure directives and test video, audio, anddata results; (7) provides a new, better, more cost-effective method forperforming tests requiring verification by witnesses; (8) provides anapparatus and method for conducting testing that does not requirewitnesses to be at-site, physically present; (9) harnesses developmentsin modern communications technology to permit real-time verifiable testmonitoring and data collection from a remote location, which avoids theexpense and complication of requiring witness engineers and customers totravel to test sites to be physically present to witness tests.

Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theadvantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in theappended claims. Further benefits and advantages of the embodiments ofthe invention will become apparent from consideration of the followingdetailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings,which specify and show preferred embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of thepresent invention and, together with the detailed description, serve toexplain the principles and implementations of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the basic scheme of the inventive system.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the basic scheme of the inventivesystem.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment set up for thermal testing of space heatingappliances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before beginning a detailed description of the subject invention,mention of the following is in order. When appropriate, like referencematerials and characters are used to designate identical, corresponding,or similar components in differing figure drawings. The figure drawingsassociated with this disclosure typically are not drawn with dimensionalaccuracy to scale, i.e., such drawings have been drafted with a focus onclarity of viewing and understanding rather than dimensional accuracy.

The present invention provides apparatus and methods for performingwitness testing without the witness being physically present at the testsite.

The present invention may be implemented by one or more devices thatinclude logic circuitry. The device performs functions and/or methods asare described in this document. The logic circuitry may include aprocessor that may be programmable for a general purpose, or dedicated,such as a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a Digital Signal Processor(DSP), a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), and other similarprocessors. For example, the device may be a digital computer-likedevice, such as a general-purpose computer selectively activated orreconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer.

Moreover, the invention additionally provides methods, which aredescribed below. The methods and algorithms presented herein are notnecessarily inherently associated with any particular computer or otherapparatus. Rather, various general-purpose machines may be used withprograms in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove moreconvenient to construct more specialized apparatus to perform therequired method steps. The required structure for a variety of thesemachines will become apparent from this description.

In all cases there should be borne in mind the distinction between themethod of the invention itself and the method of operating a computingmachine. The present invention relates both to methods in general, andalso to steps for operating a computer and for processing electrical andother physical signals to generate other desired physical signals.

The invention additionally provides programs, and methods of operationof the programs. A program is generally defined as a group of stepsleading to a desired result, due to their nature and their sequence. Aprogram includes a writing which sets forth instructions which candirect the operation of an automatic system capable of storing,processing, retrieving, or transferring information. A program madeaccording to an embodiment of the invention is most advantageouslyimplemented as a program for a computing machine, such as ageneral-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or amicroprocessor.

The invention also provides storage media that, individually or incombination with others, have stored thereon instructions of a programmade according to the invention. A storage medium according to theinventions is a computer-readable medium, such as memory, and is read bythe computing machine mentioned above.

The steps or instructions of a program made according to an embodimentof the invention requires physical manipulations of physical quantities.Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities may be transferred,combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated or processed according tothe instructions, and they may also be stored in a computer-readablemedium. These quantities include, for example, electrical, magnetic, andelectromagnetic signals, and also states of matter that can be queriedby such signals. It is convenient at times, principally for reasons ofcommon usage, to refer to these quantities as bits, data bits, samples,values, symbols, characters, images, terms, numbers, or the like. Itshould be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare associated with the appropriate physical quantities, individually orin groups.

Often, for the sake of convenience only, it is preferred to implementand describe a program as various interconnected distinct softwaremodules or features, individually and collectively also known assoftware. This is not necessary, however, and there may be cases wheremodules are equivalently aggregated into a single program with unclearboundaries. In any event, the software modules or features of thepresent invention may be implemented by themselves, or in combinationwith others. Even though it is said that the program may be stored in acomputer readable medium, it should be clear to a person skilled in theart that it need not be a single memory, or even a single machine.Various portions, modules or features of the program may reside inseparate memories, or even separate machines. The separate machines maybe connected directly, or through a network, such as a Local AreaNetwork (LAN), or a global network, such as the Internet.

In the present case, methods of the invention are implemented by machineoperations. In other words, embodiments of programs of the invention aremade such that they perform methods of the invention that are describedin this document. These may be optionally performed in conjunction withone or more human operators performing some, but not all of them. As perthe above, the users need not be collocated with each other, but eachonly with a machine that houses a portion of the program. Alternately,some of these machines may operate automatically, without users and/ordependently from each other.

The present invention utilizes information from sensors installed on atest apparatus. These sensors measure physical parameters of the testapparatus at various locations, such as: temperature, pressure, flowrate, viscosity, force, strain, displacement, vibration, electromagneticemissions, or other parameters which can be measured directly orindirectly, through contact or non-contact means.

The present invention utilizes data acquisition and signal conditioningdevices which convert electrical signals from physical sensors into atype and format usable by a digital computer for storage, display andtransmission. The data acquisition devices may include means forproviding necessary voltage and control signals to sensors, boosting thestrength of sensor output signals, filtering out unwanted interference,and/or converting analog sensor outputs into digital form, andtransmitting these conditioned signals to a computer for manipulationand storage. It will be understood by persons skilled in the art thatthese data acquisition and signal conditioning functions can beperformed in any number of ways. Individual sensors may be wireddirectly to multi-channel devices that perform all the necessaryconditioning and conversion for a plurality of sensors of various types,and which in turn transfers this data to a general purpose computer viaa direct connection or a communications network in digital formatreadily by commonly available spreadsheet or database software such asMICROSOFT EXCEL™, MICROSOFT ACCESS™ or BORLAND QUATTRO™. Alternatively,a sensor may be wired to a separate dedicated controller providing someor all of the signal conditioning and data acquisition functions, andwhich then communicates directly with a general purpose computer via adedicated communication line, a separate communications loop andcommunications module (e.g. MELSECNET™), or over a network such as aLAN, WAN, or the Internet. Communications could also be accomplished viawireless radio frequency or optical links.

The present invention may be implemented as computer software on aconventional computer system. Conventional computer systems include aprocessor which retrieves and executes software instructions stored instorage such as memory, which may be Random Access Memory (RAM) and maycontrol other components to perform the present invention. Storage maybe used to store program instructions or data or both. Storage, such asa computer disk drive or other non-volatile storage, may provide storageof data or program instructions. In one embodiment, storage provideslonger term storage of data and instructions, with storage providingstorage for data or instructions that may only be required for a shortertime than that of storage. Input devices such as computer keyboards,mouses, touch panels, device-specific function keypads, or othersuitable means allow user input to the system. Output devices, such asdisplay terminals, touch panels, printers, or LED displays, or othersuitable means, allow the system to provide information such asinstructions, data or other information to the user of the system.Storage input devices such as conventional floppy disk drives, CD-ROMdrives, or FLASH memory card slots, among others, accept input fromcomputer program products such as a conventional floppy disk, CD-ROM,FLASH memory card, or other nonvolatile storage media that may be usedto transport computer instructions or data to the system. Computerproducts or devices such as CD-ROMs and floppy disks that have encodedthereon computer readable program code, data, or both, are used toconfigure the computer system to operate as described below.

As shown in FIG. 1, the remote witness testing system includes a localcomputer 12 (the Master Measurement and Recording Control System) at thelocation of the third party witness which monitors and controls the testand stores or saves relevant test data; a remote computer 14 (the SiteMeasurement System Controller) at the remote test site which uses dataacquisition hardware 16 and software to interface with sensors 18measuring the physical parameters of the test; and a two-way audiovisualcommunications system 20 a, 20 b that permits the witness to visuallymonitor the correct placement of sensors and verify correct conduct ofthe test procedure in real time or near real time. The two-wayaudiovisual communications system 20 a, 20 b also permits videoconferencing to discuss test procedures and troubleshoot problems withthe test. Secure two-way communications links between the local computer12 and the remote test site computer 14, and the local computer 12 andthe video communications system 20 a, 20 b, allow the local computer 12to control and monitor both the remote test site computer 14 and thevideo system 20 a, 20 b; and, a remote test site test apparatus 22 inwhich the actual testing is conducted, with sensors 18 installed todetect and transmit desired parameters to the data acquisition hardware16 at the remote test site in analog or digital format.

Monitor and control by the local computer 12 are accomplished via atwo-way communications link with the remote test site computer 14 andtwo-way video communications system 20 a, 20 b, using a networkedconnection such as through an Internet Provider (IP), a Local AreaNetwork (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), a dedicated two-waycommunications line, or other similar means. For illustrative purposesthe network is the World Wide Web via the Internet, an intranet, anextranet, or any other known network.

An alternative embodiment of the basic configuration is shown in FIG. 2.The stand alone DAQ system of FIG. 1 is replaced by sensors 24 a, 24 b,24 c connected to sensor controllers 26 a, 26 b, 26 c that have DAQfunctionality built in them, which provide a digital output signal thatis already in a format useable by a general purpose computer. Suchsensors can communicate with the Remote Computer 14 via wiring in adedicated communications loop, a wireless electromagnetic communicationssystem, or via an open communications network such as the Internet.

A hybrid system comprising all of these alternatives or otheralternatives could also be utilized with this invention. A person ofskill in the art will see that the Virtual Witness Testing System is notlimited to a single configuration or technology, but is applicable to avirtually limitless arrangement of sensor and communicationstechnologies.

The embodiments described below are intended to be illustrative only.Applicant intends to encompass within the language any structurepresently existing or developed in the future that performs the samefunction.

First Embodiment Thermal Testing

One embodiment of the remote witness testing system is shown in FIG. 3.This embodiment is configured to perform testing of consumer heatingappliances to ensure compliance with building safety code standardsmandated by various agencies in the United States, Canada, and Europe.The specific test procedures vary somewhat from standard to standard,but the basic testing scheme is the same. The appliance to be tested 30is set up in a testing structure or “booth” 32 built for this type ofthermal testing. A plurality of K-type thermocouple sensors (TC) 34 aremounted on the appliance 30 and at various locations inside the booth32, as specified by the particular standard. The appliance 30 is thenfired with appropriate fuel while temperatures are recorded attest-standard-specified time intervals until temperatures of key testappliance components have stabilized or reached equilibrium, usuallydefined as three consecutive temperature readings within 1° to 3° F.(0.5 to 1.7° C.).

Data Acquisition System

The TC's 34 are connected to several multi-port jack panels 36, withimpedance calibrated for K-type thermocouples, via 500 foot K-type TCcables 38 of 24 AWG thickness. The jack panels 36 in this embodiment are19-inch jack panels with 120 female jack plugs per panel, which can bepurchased commercially from OMEGA ENGNEERNG™. The jack panels 36 provideconvenient means for terminating the TC wiring, with the number ofpanels dependent upon the number of TC sensors 34 to be connected. Eachjack in a jack panel is tied into one channel of a multi-channelisothermal terminal block 40 a, 40 b, 40 c, 40 d, mounted to the frontof its corresponding multi-channel TC amplifier SCXI™ modules 42 a, 42b, 42 c, 42 d. The isothermal terminal blocks 40 a, 40 b, 40 c, 40 d inthe present embodiment are model SCXI-1303™ 32-channel isothermalterminal blocks from National Instruments Corporation, Austin, Tex. Theisothermal terminal blocks 40 a, 40 b, 40 c, 40 d minimize temperaturedifferences between the terminal connectors of the two TC wire leadsthat can cause errors and provide a constant reference junctiontemperature to minimize errors due to terminal connector and ambientheating. Each individual channel of terminal blocks 40 a, 40 b, 40 c, 40d is coupled to a corresponding individual channel of TC amplifiermodules 42 a, 42 b, 42 c, 42 d, which amplify the voltage from the TC 34and filter the voltage signals to eliminate electrical noise. The TCamplifier modules 42 a, 42 b, 42 c, 42 d are constructed as electronicmodules that are conveniently installed in “slots” of data acquisitionsystem (DAQ) chassis 44 a, 44 b. The TC amplifier modules 42 a, 42 b, 42c, 42 d are model SCXI-1102™ 32-channel amplifier modules from NationalInstruments Corporation, Austin, Tex. installed in model SCXI-1000K™chassis 44 a, 44 b, from National Instruments Corporation Austin, Tex.,with slots for up to four multi-channel modules 42 a, 42 b, 42 c, 42 din each chassis. The DAQ system chassis 44 a, 44 b automaticallyrecognize what type of module is installed in each slot—e.g. a TCmodule, an electrical current measurement module, a strain-gage module,or other suitable modules—and provide the necessary power andcommunications connections to that module so that the user is notrequired to engage in time consuming and expensive work to manuallyconfigure each module for the particular instruments being supported.The DAQ system chassis 44 a, 44 b also help shield the installed modulesfrom unwanted electro-magnetic interference. The DAQ system chassis 44a, 44 b automatically route conditioned TC signals to an internalcommunications bus with necessary channel address information based oncontrol and timing commands generated by the DAQ input/output (I/O)electronic card 46 installed in the remote computer 48. Up to thirty-twoSCXI-1000K chassis 44 a, 44 b may be linked together to provide hundredsof channels of data from various types of sensors, with all controlledby a single I/O card 46. In the present embodiment set up for testingresidential heating appliances some testing standards require monitoringup to 224 channels of TC data, so two SCXI-1000K chassis 44 a, 44 b arelinked, providing up to 256 channels of TC data.

The DAQ system chassis 44 a, 44 b are connected via a shielded cable 50with an RS-232 connector to the Remote computer 48, through the I/O card46. The Remote computer 48 in this embodiment is a general purposepersonal computer (PC) with a DAQ I/O card 46 installed, such as themodel PCI-6034E DAQ I/O card available from National InstrumentsCorporation, Austin, Tex., along with software instructions necessary tointerface with the I/O card 46. The I/O card 46 contains a circuit boardwith various solid state circuit components and microprocessor chipswhich together perform a number of functions. The I/O card 46 convertsthe analog TC signals to digital format which can easily stored andmanipulated by a digital computer, automatically configurescommunications with the SCXI-based DAQ devices, provides control signalsto the DAQ chassis 44 a, 44 b determining which channel of informationis to be fed to the communications bus at a given time and what type ofsignal conditioning functions and in what magnitude each module shouldapply to the analog sensor signals, and other functions. The I/O card 46also provides the ability to chop sensor input signals permitting moredetailed analysis by the user. The I/O card 46 can be easily configuredand controlled through the Remote computer 48 using commerciallyavailable data acquisition software programs such as LABVIEW™ fromNational Instruments Corporation, Austin, Tex.

Remote Computer

The Remote computer 48 in the present embodiment utilizes anmicroprocessor operating at 333 mega-hertz (MHz), such as the PENTIUM4™from Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif., a hard drive memory storagedevice with 40 gigabytes (GB) of memory capacity, 128 megabytes (MB) ofDouble Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (DDR SDRAM), acompact disk readable-writable drive (CD-RW), an RS-232 compatiblecommunications port, a 10/100 Ethernet communications card to permitcommunications over a data network, and a flat panel display 52. TheRemote computer 48 further has at least two available expansion slots,one of which is occupied by the I/O card 46, the other of which isoccupied by a video capture card, such as a VIDEUM™ 1000 PLUS™ videocapture card from WINNOV of Santa Clara, Calif. The Remote computer 48has an operating system, such as the WINDOWS XP™ operating system fromMicrosoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., and has software necessary tocommunicate over the Internet, such as INTERNET EXPLORER™ browser fromMicrosoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. or other suitable software. Aperson skilled in the art will recognize that the inventive system isnot limited to these parameters. The invention could utilize generalpurpose computers such as MACINTOSH™-series of computers from AppleComputer, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., or could run on PC computersutilizing UNIX™ or LINUX™ operating systems. The invention could alsouse a computer of greater or lesser performance level depending on therequirements of the DAQ system, or other hardware or softwarerequirements. The described embodiment utilizes a relatively standardand readily available computer of moderate cost that has the capacity tointerface with a DAQ system which the inventor is most familiar with,such as the DAQ system from National Instruments Corporation of Austin,Tex.

Data Acquisition Software

The Remote computer 48 contains software instructions that permit theuser to interface with the DAQ system and manipulate the sensor datagathered by displaying and storing data from the DAQ system, sendingcommands to the DAQ system, and permitting the sensor data to be stored,arranged, and displayed in the desired manner and format. Many dataacquisition software programs are available commercially. DAQ softwarepermits the user to apply complex statistical algorithms to the data inorder to more easily analyze the data. DAQ software also permits theuser to display test data via in an easily understood format on aviewing terminal or printer, and to store test data on media in aneasily retrievable format, such as the computer hard drive or removablestorage media, or transmit the data over a communications network suchas the Internet. DAQ software can store data in spreadsheet formats suchas MICROSOFT EXCEL™ or in database formats such as MICROSOFT ACCESS™.

Alternatively, users may choose to write their own software to interfacewith sensors and data acquisition hardware and to display, store, andanalyze sensor data. The inventive system is quite flexible and providesfor use of any suitable hardware/software configurations depending onthe needs of the user based upon the nature of the testing to beperformed, the resources available to the user, and the knowledge andexperience of the user. The inventors have found that it is often moreconvenient and efficient to utilize commercially available softwareprograms, as in the embodiment described here, but a person skilled inthe art will recognize that the inventive system can incorporate manysuitable software programs or combinations thereof to accomplish thetasks, both commercially available or custom written.

The LABVIEW™ software used in the present embodiment is a user-friendlyprogram with a graphical programming interface which allows the user tocontrol the DAQ device module 42 a, 42 b, 42 c, 42 d, chassis 44 a, 44b, and I/O card 46, as well as automatically display and store testdata, with test specific identifiers and date-time stamping. LABVIEW™also provides the ability to produce customized reports, and store datain formats useable by commonly available spreadsheet and data basesoftware programs such as MICROSOFT EXCEL™, MICROSOFT ACCESS™, LOTUS1,2,3,™, and others. LABVIEW™ also permits incorporation of digitalaudiovisual data as part of its data logging features. While theLABVIEW™ software provides many practical advantages in this embodimenta person of skill in the art will recognize that many off-the-shelf dataacquisition software programs could accomplish the same purpose, as wellas software programs custom written by the user or others for aparticular test procedure or device configuration.

Local Computer

A local computer 54 at the third party testing certifier locationprovides monitor and control functions to the certifying test engineeras well as data recording control. The local computer 54 in thisembodiment comprises a digital computer with an microprocessor operatingat a minimum of 333 mega-hertz (MHz), such as an Intel Pentium4, atleast 128 mega-bytes (MB) of double-data-rate synchronous dynamic randomaccess memory (DDR SDRAM), a 10/100 Ethernet communications card and anetwork communications port, a 48 times-overspeed read-write compactdisk (48× CD-RW) drive, at least one RS-232 compatible communicationsport, a hard drive for data storage of at least 40 MB capacity, and atleast one visual display monitor 56. The local computer 54 also includesa video capture card, such as a WINNOV™ VIDEUM™ 1000 PLUS™ video capturecard. The local computer 54 in the present embodiment utilizes theMICROSOFT WINDOWS™ XP™ operating system.

Audiovisual Communications System

The inventive system utilizes a secure, two-way digital audiovisualcommunications system with which serves several functions: 1) itprovides virtual face-to-face communications between the witnessing TestEngineer—co-located with the Local Computer—and the persons at theremote test site actually conducting the test; 2) it provides theability for the witnessing Test Engineer to visually observe thephysical arrangement of the appliance to be tested 30 within the testbooth 32 and the placement of the sensors 34; 3) it allows thewitnessing Test Engineer to visually verify the type/model/serial numberof the sensors 34 used for the testing as well as any calibration labelson these sensors; and, 4) it permits the witnessing Test Engineer tovisually observe the conduct of the test to ensure proper testprocedures are employed. By utilizing a secure communicationsconnection, either by encryption of transmissions or other means, theparties are able to maintain confidentiality over the devices beingtested as well as the test results.

The present embodiment utilizes digital video conferencing system, suchas the VIEWSTATION™ H.323 digital video conferencing systems fromPolycom, Inc. of Pleasanton, Calif., to provide two-way, real-timeaudio-visual communications between the Remote Test Site and the TestingEngineer located at the Local Computer 54 via the Internet. TheVIEWSTATION™ H.323 includes the computer processor and controller 58with an attached digital camera/microphone device 60. At least onedigital video conferencing system 58, 60 is co-located with the remotecomputer 48 and video monitor 52, and at least one other digital videoconferencing system 72, 74 is co-located with the local computer 54 anddisplay monitor 56.

At least one additional digital video camera 62, such as the model EVID100™ digital video camera available from Sony Corporation of America ofNew York, N.Y., is co-located with the test booth 32 with a view of thetest area and which can be easily repositioned to observe differentaspects of the test area as necessary. The additional digital videocamera 62 is connected to the remote test site digital videoconferencing system 58 and is co-located with the test booth 32 so as toprovide a view of the test booth. Orientation of the digital camera 62is controllable from the local computer 54.

The digital video conferencing systems 58, 72 connect to a LAN providingconnectivity to the Internet via a 2-port Ethernet appliance thattransmits audio-video signals over packet based networks such as theInternet and provides encryption of audio-visual transmissions forsecurity over IP, without changing your existing network or camera, suchas the model EASY-VC E107™ Ethernet appliance from Bulldog InformationServices of Tuscon, Ariz. 70, 76. The present embodiment utilizescomputers 48, 54 with installed video capture cards, such as the WINNOVVIDEUM 1000 PLUS™ video capture cards, and flat panel display monitors52, 56 to provide video display and menu-based control of the connectedremote digital video conferencing system 58, 60 and video camera 62, aswell as the local digital video conferencing system 72, 74. The videocapture card permits the computer to control operations of the cameras60, 62, 74 such as pan, tilt, zoom, brightness, hue and other features,as well as choosing the format of the video feed to provide streamingvideo or video compression for saving to storage media. For testprocedures requiring records of visual verification the suitablesoftware, such as the LABVIEW™ software, provides capability to save thecompressed audiovisual data along with other sensor data.

Control of the Remote Computer

The Remote computer 48 transmits sensor and audiovisual data to theLocal Computer 54 via a secure communications link, preferably theInternet. The Remote computer 48 and Local Computer 54 in the presentembodiment are connected to the Internet via LANs and have all necessarysoftware instructions for operating on the Internet via a LAN. TheRemote computer 48 and Local Computer 54 contain software which permitsencrypted data transmission and storage, and may utilize additionalsecurity features such as password access control to the operatingsystem and specified data files stored on the computer memory ifnecessary.

The witness Test Engineer controls the test through the Local Computer54. Using the secure two-way communications link the local computer 54monitors and stores all sensor data acquired by the remote test sitecomputer 48. The Remote Computer 48 is controlled by the Local Computer54 at least during the data collection phase of the testing procedure.During the conduct of the test the Local Computer 54 is able, at aminimum, to monitor and display all of the test-related data that theRemote Computer 48 is able to monitor and display, and to control theRemote Computer's 48 data transfer and file sharing operations. Only theLocal Computer 54 is permitted to save test data on permanent storagemedia during the conduct of the test. The present embodiment utilizes athird party Internet service, such as GoToMyPC.com from Citrix Systems,Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to provide control of the Remote computer48 by the Local Computer 54. This third party service provides encryptedconnections over which one computer, designated the master computer, cansee what is displayed on a designated slave computer and control theslave computer using the master computer's input/output devices (e.g.keyboard, mouse, display monitor, printer). In the present embodimentthe Local Computer 54 acts as the master computer and the RemoteComputer 48 acts as the slave computer. A person skilled in the art willrecognize that other methods could be used to achieve remote operationof the Remote computer 48 by the Local Computer 54.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous modifications andchanges may be made to the preferred embodiment without departing fromthe scope of the claimed invention. It will, of course, be understoodthat modifications of the invention, in its various aspects, will beapparent to those skilled in the art, some being apparent only afterstudy, others being matters of routine mechanical, chemical andelectronic design. No single feature, function or property of thepreferred embodiment is essential. Other embodiments are possible, theirspecific designs depending upon the particular application. As such, thescope of the invention should not be limited by the particularembodiments herein described but should be defined only by the appendedclaims and equivalents thereof.

1. A method for conducting remote witness product testing, comprising:assembling at a remote test site a test apparatus comprising: a subjectdevice to be tested; a thermal test booth to substantially enclose thesubject device; a plurality of remote sensors; a two-way real-timedigital audiovisual system; at least one remote computer with at least:one or more communications lines for communicating over a communicationsnetwork; a set of programmed instructions stored on each of said atleast one remote computer for displaying data; and, a set of programmedinstructions stored on each of said at least one remote computer forsending and receiving data over one or more communications networks andfor remote display; conducting tests on the subject device in accordancewith predetermined testing procedures; communicating data from theplurality of remote sensors to each of said at least one remotecomputers located at the remote test site during the conduct of thetest; transmitting test data from each of said at least one remotecomputers to a local computer, wherein the local computer is co-locatedwith a party designated to observe the testing and geographicallydistant from the remote test site; and verifying, by the partydesignated to observe the testing, the test data; wherein display,storage, and transmission of test data is controlled by the localcomputer and the local computer permanently records said test data. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the communications network is theInternet.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission of testdata is encrypted.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the two-wayreal-time digital audio-visual system includes at least one digitalcamera and digital audio recorder co-located with the plurality ofremote sensors and able to view the position of said plurality of remotesensors.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the party designated toobserve the testing electronically authenticates the test data recordedby the local computer.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein thepredetermined testing procedures comprise standards required forcertification of the subject device by a regulatory authority.
 7. Themethod for conducting remote witness product testing of claim 1 furthercomprising: certifying, by the party designated to observe the testing,the test data.
 8. A method for conducting remote witness product testingcomprising: providing a test apparatus including a thermal testing boothto substantially enclose a product, the test apparatus further includingone or more sensors to monitor one or more test parameters, the one ormore sensors further including one or more thermocouples coupled to theproduct, an interior of the thermal testing booth, or a combinationthereof to monitor one or more thermal test parameters; monitoring, bythe one or more sensors, the one or more test parameters; collecting, bya remote digital computer co-located with the test apparatus and inelectronic communication with the one or more sensors, the one or moretest parameters; transmitting, by the remote digital computer, the oneor more test parameters to a local digital computer co-located with adesignated test witness; displaying and permanently storing, by thelocal digital computer, the one or more test parameters; and verifying,by the designated test witness, the one or more test parameters.
 9. Themethod for conducting remote witness product testing of claim 8 furthercomprising: certifying, by the designated test witness, the one or moretest parameters.
 10. The method for conducting remote witness producttesting of claim 8 further comprising: recording, by the designated testwitness, compliance of the one or more test parameters with one or moretest standards.